Protector recruits 100 trainees

Johannesburg - One hundred new trainee investigators officially joined the Public Protector's ranks on Tuesday.

The trainees were recruited in 2012 and would increase the number of investigators from 300 to 400, Thuli Madonsela's office said in a statement.

“We always say we are not swift and thorough enough because we don’t have as many people as we need. Your arrival increases our establishment by 25 percentage points,” Madonsela said in addressing a ceremony welcoming the recruits.

Her office processed 26 000 cases in the last financial year and concluded 16 700 of these.

The trainees would be based at the protector's 20 offices across the country.

Madonsela told them they had a “pivotal role” in South Africa and held the public's trust.

“Usually, when public money has been wasted there is anger all round, but when people have been treated badly the anger is not that much. You should inspire the public service to treat people with a sense of ubuntu,” she said.

The trainees would be assigned their own cases, but work under the supervision of experienced investigators. - Sapa